I was going to talk about ‘The Hangover’ today and recommend anyone who hasn’t already done so to go see it. It lifted my little heart no end. The problem was that two weeks ago Ianto Jones, coffee boy of Torchwood and lover of Captain Jack Harkness, died whilst battling the 456 and my time has been taken up reading numerous blog on the subject. As such, I’d like to think of this article as a compendium to last week’s scribblings.
Ianto Jones was a particular favourite character of mine. Admittedly, during the first series I really wanted to slap him with a wet fish. Ianto would mope around serving espressos and emulating puppy dog eyes at Jack. All this whilst hiding his half toastie maker/half girlfriend in the Hub basement. Then the second series came and, after what appeared to be a reboot, he became the sarky team member. The character most likely to quip rather than fight. A lovely sorbet after the plate of emo nonsense of series 1.
So, when the fourth episode of Children of Earth aired, I, like most people it seems, was quite upset to see him sucking down poisoned air before summarily having his love for Jack dismissed by the previously mentioned Botox supporter. Once the series was over and it was obvious that there was no chance Ianto was going to be doing impersonations of Lazarus, I got on with my life.
A week later I read that there had been a few calls to arms about Ianto’s parting. It appears that a large sub-section of Torchwood fans feel cheated. A blogger going by the name of Spiderine has had a rather venomous rant aimed at Russell T Davies and his fellow writers that hinges on insanity. The whole article can be read here. However, I should point out that even if you end up disagreeing with her, do not make any attempt to discuss the issue with her. This 21st Century Boadicea slashes down anyone who dare say that she might be going slightly OTT by suggesting that ripping RTD a new arsehole is appropriate behaviour for a fully grown woman. She even uses the meme of ‘fridging’ to describe RTD’s treatment of Ianto. (For those not in the know, this is a reference to the phrase ‘women in refrigerators’ which, after the Green Lantern’s girlfriend was chopped up and put in a fridge ina particular gruesome issue, describes any act of violence (including rape/murder) aimed at a female superhero. Normally these acts add nothing more to the plot but a brow furrowing attempt to understand what comic book writers have against women.). Spiderine goes on to suggest that Ianto died because he was GAY and RTD was bowing down to certain BBC viewer who couldn’t handle homosexuality with their sci-fi. Considering this is a man who gave us Queer as Folk, a drama that contained enough controversy for all three series of Torchwood, it’s fair to say that this couldn’t be any more off the mark.
She is summarily backed up by a series of likeminded friends who tend to snort, snarf and LOL at any comment she makes. It sort of reminds me of the days of Howard Stern and his pack of sycophants.
Hers is not the only voice out there crying of unfair treatment. There literally hundreds of fans who feel because they’ve bought the DVDs, the t-shirts, the John Barrowman dildos, they somehow have a right to use threatening language against people they have never met. James Moran, who wrote 2006’s brilliant Severance and a couple of episodes of Torchwood, has already retaliated writing a strongly worded blog asking for people to remain calm. Click here for that. In a recent interview, RTD commented that:
It’s not particularly a backlash. What’s actually happening is, well, nothing really to be honest. It’s a few people posting online and getting fans upset. Which is marvellous. It just goes to prove how much they love the character and the actor. People often say, ‘Fans have got their knives out!’ They haven’t got any knives. I haven’t been stabbed. Nothing’s happened. It’s simply a few people typing. I’m glad they’re typing because they’re that involved. But if you can’t handle drama you shouldn’t watch it. Find something else. Go look at poetry. Poetry’s wonderful.
This just added fuel to fire and certain fans are acting as if Russell himself came over to their houses and raped their cat. Some cried that RTD just didn’t understand his fans. These fans, in the very same breath, would bemoaned the fact that there aren’t enough deaths in Doctor Who I should add. There is even a petition to STOP a fourth series of Torchwood being made!
The problem, as I have just said, is that some people think that we’re owed something because we happen to tune in. We’re really not. We are owed nothing. A programme was made and it appealed to some people. Unfortunately, there was a death by a major character, but so what? Pop your DVD boxset on and hey! Look at that! Ianto is alive again. It’s the wonder of technology. Yes, we can be sad when a character dies, I was gutted like every other fan, but to be aggressive and violent towards another person’s creativity just goes to serve people’s misconceptions of sci-fi fans. Still, here I am getting angry about someone getting angry so maybe I’m just as bad.
That said, there is some good out there. There are people who use their disappointment at Ianto’s demise for something positive. Save Ianto Jones is a website created in honour of everyone’s favourite coffee boy, but with a twist. The webmaster has openly separated themselves from the angst and anger of others and, whilst doing so, have created petition with a difference. They are encouraging people to send money to Children in Need. The more money they raise the money the more chance they hope of getting Ianto back in Torchwood. Yes, some people will argue that it’s a futile act, but at least they are trying to do something good at the same time. It’s like a moral bribe.
So, yeah, there’s nothing to conclude with that I didn’t say last week. Let’s just remain calm people. Seriously, play nice someone takes the rest of your slash fiction toys away.
*Edit: This story as of 4th September is the most read blog on my page and yet no one has commented. I genuinely would like to know what people think. The whole Ianto thing is pretty much dead now (no pun intended) but it’d be good to hear from you if you’ve read this.
